The new fee structure, released by the UK Home Office, affects applications made both داخل and outside the country. It covers a wide range of routes including visit, study, employment, settlement and citizenship, with only a handful of exceptions where fees remain unchanged or are reduced.
The development is particularly significant for applicants from Nigeria, which consistently ranks among the largest sources of visa applications to the UK. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians apply for visitor, student and work visas, making the changes highly consequential for prospective travellers and migrants.
The increases will come into force in less than two weeks, leaving a narrow window for applicants hoping to submit under the current pricing.
Broad Increases Across Visit Visa Categories
Fees for visit visas — one of the most commonly used routes — are rising across all durations. The standard short-term visa (up to six months) will increase from £127 to £135.
Longer-term options are also affected:
- Two-year visa: £475 → £506
- Five-year visa: £848 → £903
- Ten-year visa: £1,059 → £1,128
Specialised visit visas are similarly adjusted:
- Visiting academic (over six months, up to 12 months): £220 → £234
- Private medical treatment (over six months, up to 11 months): £220 → £234
- Direct airside transit visa: £39 → £41.50
- Landside transit visa: £70 → £74.50
Higher Costs for International Students
Student visa applicants will also face increased charges. The standard student visa — covering main applicants and dependants — rises from £524 to £558. The same increase applies to child students.
Short-term study visas for English language courses (over six months up to 11 months) will move from £214 to £228.
Work Visa Fees Adjusted Across Multiple Routes
A wide range of work visa categories will see fee increases:
- Skilled Worker (up to 3 years): £769 → £819
- Skilled Worker (over 3 years): £1,519 → £1,618
Under the Immigration Salary List:
- Up to 3 years: £590 → £628
- Over 3 years: £1,160 → £1,235
Health and Care Visa:
- Up to 3 years: £304 → £324
- Over 3 years: £590 → £628
Other work-related routes include:
- Innovator Founder: £1,274 → £1,357
- Start-up: £465 → £495
- Scale-up: £880 → £937
- Graduate Route: £880 → £937
- T2 Minister of Religion: £769 → £819
International Sportsperson:
- Up to 12 months: £319 → £340
- Over 12 months: £769 → £819
Temporary Work routes (including Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme, India Young Professionals Scheme):
- £319 → £340
Other categories:
- Representative of an overseas business: £769 → £819
- Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (up to 3 years): £769 → £819
- Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (over 3 years): £1,519 → £1,618
- Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee: £319 → £340
- Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier: £319 → £340
- Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker: £319 → £340
- Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker: £319 → £340
Notably, a few categories remain unchanged:
- High Potential Individual visa: £880
- Tier 1 (Investor) visa: £2,000
Settlement and Residency Fees Climb
Applicants seeking permanent residence will also face higher costs:
- Route to Settlement: £1,938 → £2,064
- Route to Settlement (other dependant relative): £3,413 → £3,635
- Route to Settlement (refugee dependant relative): £424 → £452
Indefinite leave to remain:
- £3,029 → £3,226
Other in-country applications:
- Visitor extension: £1,100 → £1,172
- Leave to remain (other): £1,321 → £1,407
Travel Document Fees Increased
Fees for travel-related documentation are also being revised:
- Certificate of travel (adult): £300 → £320
- Certificate of travel (child): £151 → £161
- Convention travel document (adult): £94.50 → £102
- Convention travel document (child): £61.50 → £66.50
Citizenship and Nationality Charges Revised
Citizenship-related applications will generally cost more under the new structure:
- Naturalisation (British citizenship): £1,605 → £1,709
- Registration as British citizen (adult): £1,446 → £1,540
In a rare exception, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen has been reduced:
- £1,214 → £1,000
Other nationality services:
- Renunciation of nationality: £482 → £513
- Nationality review: £482 → £513
- Status Letter (Nationality): £459 → £489
- Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality): £459 → £489
Implications for Nigerian Applicants
With Nigeria continuing to rank among the top sources of UK-bound travellers, students and skilled workers, the across-the-board increases are expected to raise the overall cost of migration planning.
While most categories have been adjusted upward, the reduction in child citizenship registration stands out as the only significant relief in an otherwise expansive fee hike. Overall, the revised pricing underscores the growing financial commitment required to access opportunities in the UK’s immigration system.